The State Assembly And Campaign Reform

Published: August 20, 2006

To the Editor:

''New York's Money Funnels,'' your Aug. 13 editorial regarding a loophole in the state's campaign finance laws that allows corporations to surpass contribution limits to candidates by forming subsidiaries, was comprehensive, with one exception. The Assembly has passed legislation for more than a decade that would end a practice we strongly agree makes a mockery of our current attempt to curb the corrosive impact of ''big money'' on our elections.

You do a regrettable disservice by citing a serious problem and not making your readers aware that there have been real and concerted efforts to fix it.

The Assembly is absolutely committed to campaign finance reform in New York State. A better job of informing the public of where obstacles to achieving our mutual goal lie and of the clear and effective bill I have sponsored to tighten the law limiting corporate contributions certainly would help to realize our common objective.